EPISODE · Jun 4, 2026 · 31 MIN
Episode 8 - Sexual Harassment in the Church & America
from Christ & Hospitality · host Lauren D. Sawyer
In this penultimate episode, Dr. Sawyer shares her experience at FaithTrust Institute in parallel with the changing views of sexual harassment in the Church and American culture.[07:37] See the chapter, “Sexual Harassment at Century's End," in R. Marie Griffith’s book, Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics.[08:45] This is the EEOC’s current definition of sexual harassment: “It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person's sex. Harassment can include 'sexual harassment' or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature."Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general."Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex."Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted)."The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.”[11:07] See Seth Dowland’s book, Family Values and the Rise of the Christian Right.[17:20] These stats come from Griffith, 256.[19:41] This extended quote comes from Griffith, 271.[29:12] Access those archives here.[29:22] See the book, published by GRACE: The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits.[29:52] Learn more about IntoAccount here. [30:25] See Monica Coleman, The Dinah Project: A Handbook for Congregational Responses to Sexual Violence.
What this episode covers
In this penultimate episode, Dr. Sawyer shares her experience at FaithTrust Institute in parallel with the changing views of sexual harassment in the Church and American culture.[07:37] See the chapter, “Sexual Harassment at Century's End," in R. Marie Griffith’s book, Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics.[08:45] This is the EEOC’s current definition of sexual harassment: “It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person's sex. Harassment can include 'sexual harassment' or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature."Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general."Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex."Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted)."The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.”[11:07] See Seth Dowland’s book, Family Values and the Rise of the Christian Right.[17:20] These stats come from Griffith, 256.[19:41] This extended quote comes from Griffith, 271.[29:12] Access those archives here.[29:22] See the book, published by GRACE: The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits.[29:52] Learn more about IntoAccount here. [30:25] See Monica Coleman, The Dinah Project: A Handbook for Congregational Responses to Sexual Violence.
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Episode 8 - Sexual Harassment in the Church & America
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